Self upsetting toy vehicle



Sept. 19, 1961 H. E. VINE 3,000,137

SELF UPSETTING TOY VEHICLE Filed Sept. 16, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 [8 FIG. .1. /2 ,2 20

// INVENTOR. HENRY E. IVE,

I BY

4 T TOZA/f YS Sept. 19, 1961 H. E. VINE 3,000,137

SELF UPSETTING TOY VEHICLE Filed Sept. 16, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4-

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Sept. 19, 1961 H. E. VINE 3,000,137

SELF UPSETTING TOY VEHICLE Filed Sept. l6, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 7

Filed Sept. 16, 1960, Ser. No. 56,566 4 Claims. (Cl. 46-202) The present invention relates to toys generally and in particular to a rolling toy vehicle.

An object of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle which may be propelled on a floor surface so as to collide with an obstruction, the toy vehicle having means for tilting it over on its side or top as the result of the collision in a manner which is highly realistic.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle which may be propelled on a floor surface so as to collide with an obstruction, the toy having means for rolling on its side as a result of the collision and also having means for ejecting from the vehicle a dummy toy occupant out of the seat of the vehicle.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a toy vehicle which may be propelled on a floor surface so as to collide with an obstruction, the toy vehicle having means for tilting it over on its side or top as a result of the collision, ejecting from the seat of the vehicle a dummy toy occupant of the seat, and at the same time producing a noise simulating the noise of the collision.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be fully apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which: I

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the toy vehicle of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view looking upwardly from the bottom of the vehicle, a portion of the frame being broken away; 7

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on the line 44 of FIG- URE l;

FIGURE 5 is a view taken on the line 55 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the vehicle as seen from the front;

FIGURE 7 is a front view showing the vehicle in the act of turning over and ejecting from the seat the seat occupant, certain lines denoting the explosion of the percussion cap to simulate the noise of a collision;

FIGURE 8 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is a view taken on the line 99 of FIG- URE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a view on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 3, the dotted line showing indicating the position of the' ground engaging element when released.

With reference to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the reference numeral 12 designates generally the toy vehicle having a frame 14'mounted' upon four wheels 16' so as to be mobile. The frame '14 has a forward end 18 and a rearward end 20 and a seat 22 mounted on the frame 14 between the forward end 18 and the rearward end 20.

A bumper 24 extends along and is spaced from the forward end 18 of the frame 14. Means is provided connecting the bumper 24 to the frame 14* f0i movement toward and away from the forward end 18 of the frame 14. Specifically, this means consists ina-p'air' of laterally spaced horizontally disposed rods 26 and 28 having their midportions slidably mounted in brackets 30 and 32, respectively, which project upwardly from the frame 14 inwardly of the forward end 18, as shown most clearly in FIGURES 4 and 5. The bumper 24 is mounted upon the forward end of the rods 26 and 28 and coilsprings 34 nited States Patent Q Patented Sept. 19,, 1961 and 36 are circumposed about the portions of the rods 26 and 28, respectively, between the associated brackets 30 and 32 and the bumper 24. The springs 34 and 36 bias the bumper 24 to its position away from the forward end 18 of the frame 14.

A spring loaded first arm 38 having a ground engaging element or ball 40 on one end is positioned beneath the frame 14 intermediate the forward end 18 and the rearward end 20 and has its other end pivotally connected to the frame 14 for movement of the arm 38 between a position suspended from the frame 14 to a position in which the ball 40 is in contact with the ground surface, as at 42 in FIGURE 10.

The arm 38 is mounted upon a horizontally disposed pin 44 supported in a bifurcated bracket 46 depending from the frame 14, as shown in FIGURES 3 and 10.

A spring 48 is wound about the pin 44 and has one end bearing against a mounting plate 53 fixed to the underside of the frame 14 and has the other end bearing against the arm 38 intermediate the pin 44 and the rubber ball 40.

A first releasable latch means, embodying a detent 50, is releasably engaged in an opening 52 provided in the rubber ball 40. The detent 50 is on one end of a lever 54 pivotally connected to the frame 14 by means of a pin 56 which is supported in another bifurcated bracket 58 rising from the frame 14.

The other end of the lever 54 is provided with an eye formation 60 interlocked with an eye formation 62 on the rearward end of the rod 26, as shown best in FIG- URE l0. Execution of rearward movement of the rod 26 as indicated by the arrow in FIGURE it) shifts the lever 54 from the full line position to the dotted line position to release the detent 50 from the opening 52 in the ball 40. This permits the ball 40 to move from the suspended position to a position engaging the ground surface 42 under the action of the associated spring 48. Due to the positioning of the ball 40 adjacent one side of the vehicle 12, the striking of the ball 40 on the floor or ground surface 42 results in tilting of the vehicle 12 as in FIGURE 7 and, if the strength of the spring 48 is strong enough, the vehicle 12 will roll over on its side or top.

The end of the arm 38 adjacent the pin 44 is provided with an extension 64 projecting outwardly at an angle to the arm 38 and movable therewith. Dotted lines at 66 indicate the position of a paper cap removably held between the flanges of a bracket 68 secured to the underside of the frame 14 in the path of movement of the extension 64.

When the ball 40 moves suddenly to the position engaging the ground surface 42, the extension 64 moves to the position overlying and abutting against the cap 66 to explode the same and simulating the noise of a collision.

A second spring loaded arm 70 is disposed forwardly of and adjacent the seat 22 and is connected intermediate its ends by horizontally disposed pin 72 which is supported in an upstanding bifurcated bracket 74 fixed to the frame 14 as shown in FIGURES 8 and 9.

A spring 76 has its intermediate portion circumposed about the pin 72 and one end bearing against the underside of the arm 70 and the other end bearing against the upper face of the adjacent portion of the frame 14.

A lever 78 is mounted upon a horizontally disposed pin 80 carried in the upper end of an upstanding bracket 82 which rises from the frame 14. The lever 78 is provided with a ledge 84 at one end overlying and bearing against the free end of the arm 70. The other end of the lever 78 is provided with an eye formation 86 interengaged with an eye formation 88 on the rearward end of the rod 28. Rearward movement of the rod 28, as indicated by an arrow in FIGURE 8, shifts the lever 78 from the full line position to the dotted line position and releases the ledge 84 from the arm 70 to permit the swinging movement of the arm 78 from the full end position to the dotted line position in FIGURE 8.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the arm 78 underlies the legs of a dummy toy occupant 90 of the seat 22. When the arm 70 swings from the horizontal position to the upward sloping position it causes the occupant 90 to be ejected from the seat 22, as in FIGURE 7.

As a matter of manufacturing convenience, the bracket 46 which holds the pin 44 for supporting the arm 38 may be formed from outwardly projecting ears formed integrally with the mounting plate 53. Also, the bracket 74 and bracket 82 may be formed from ears formed integrally with the mounting plate 77. y

In operation, when the vehicle 12 is rolled against a ground or floor surface toward an obstacle on the ground or floor surface, the bumper 24, upon colliding with the obstacle, is shifted rearwardly of vehicle 12 and the rods 26 and 28 move backwardly and effect the release of the first and second levers 54 and 78 from their engagement with the ball 40 and arm 70, respectively. Under the action of the spring 48, the ball 40 is shifted downwardly to engagement with the floor or ground surface and the vehicle is tilted violently upwardly as in FIGURE 7. At the same time the paper cap 66, of the type employed in toy pistols, is exploded by the striking ofthe extension 64. The arm 70 also executes its movement from the horizontal position to the upwardly sloping position at the same time that the cap 66 is exploded and the vehicle 12 is tilted and the arm 70 ejects the dummy toy occupant 90 out of the seat 22 and clear away from the vehicle 12.

It is to be understood that the vehicle 12 may be manufactored in as many styles and models as are found to be commercially practical. Also, most of the vehicle 12 may be fabricated of plastic although certain parts such as the pins 44 and 72 the extension 64, the springs 48 and 46, and the bracket 68 are preferably fabricated of metal.

It is intended that the vehicle 12 may be manufactured by any method and may be colored as desired. In place of the rubber ball 40, it may be that when the vehicle 12 is engineered for manufacturing, the ball 40 and arm 38 may be formed integrally of plastic material. The purpose of having the ball rubber is to prevent scratching of a polished floor surface over which the vehicle 12 might be rolled by a child.

Other changes and modifications may be made in the vehicle as occur to the manufacturer without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a self upsetting toy vehicle, a mobile frame having a forward end and a rearward end, a seat on said frame between the forward and rearward ends thereof, a bumper extending along and spaced from the forward end of said frame, means connecting said bumper to said frame for movement toward and away from the forward end of said frame, a spring loaded first arm having a ground engaging element on one end positioned beneath said frame intermediate the ends thereof and having the other end pivotally connected to said frame for movement of said arm between a position suspended from said frame to a position in which said element is in contact with a ground surface, a first releasable latch means engaging said ground engaging element for holding said arm in the suspended position, a spring loaded second arm disposed forwardly of the adjacent said seat and connected intermediate its ends to said frame for swinging movement between a substantially horizontal position to an upwardly sloping position, a second releasable latch means engaging one end of said second arm for holding said second arm in the horizontal position, and means connecting said first and second latch means to said .bumper connecting means so that execution of the movement of said bumper toward the forward end of said frame will release said first and second latch means and permit the movement of said first arm under the action of the associated loaded spring from the suspended position to the position in which the ground engaging element is in contact with the ground surface to forcibly engage said ground surface to cause tilting movement of the vehicle and the movement of said second arm under the action of the associated loaded spring from the horizontal position to the upwardly sloping position to forcibly engage a dummy toy. occupant when disposed in said seat to cause ejection of said occupant out of said seat and free of said vehicle.

2. In a self upsetting toy vehicle, a mobile frame having a forward end and a rearward end, a seat on said frame between the forward and rearward ends thereof, a bumper extending along and spaced from the forward end of said frame, means connecting said bumper to said frame for movement toward and away from the forward end of said frame, a spring loaded first arm having a ground engaging element embodying a rubber ball provided with an opening on one end of said arm positioned beneath said frame intermediate the ends thereof and having the other end pivotally connected to said frame for movement of said arm between a position suspended from said frame to a position in which said ball is in contact with a ground surface, a first releasable latch means embodying a detent releasably engaged in the opening in said ball for holding said arm in the suspended position, a spring loaded second arm disposed forwardly of and adjacent said seat and connected intermediate said frame for swinging movement between a substantially horizontal position to an upwardly sloping position, a second releasable latch means engaging one end of said second arm for holding said second arm in the horizontal position, and means connecting said detent and said second latch means to said bumper connecting means so that execution of the movement of said bumper toward the forward end of said frame will release said detent and said second latch means and permit the movement of said first arm under the action of the associated loaded spring from the suspended position in to the position in which the ball is in contact with the ground surface to forcibly engage said ground surface to cause tilting movement of the vehicle andthe movement of said second arm under the action of the associated loaded spring from the horizontal position to the upwardly sloping position to forcibly engage a dummy toy occupant when disposed in said seat to cause ejection of saidoccupant out of said seat and free of said vehicle.

3. In a self upsetting toy vehicle, a mobile frame having a forward end and a rearward end, a seat on said frame between the forward and rearward ends thereof, a bumper extending along and spaced from the forward end of said frame, means connecting said bumper to said frame for movement toward and away from the forward end of said frame, a spring loaded first arm having a ground engaging element embodying a rubber ball provided with an opening on one end of said arm positioned beneath said frame intermediate the ends thereof and having the other end pivotally connected to said frame for movement of said arm between a position suspended from said frame to a position in which said ball is in contact with a ground surface, a first releasable latch means embodying a lever pivotally contacted intermediate the ends thereof to said frame, a detent on one end of said lever releasably engaged in the opening in said ball for holding said arm in the suspended position, a spring loaded second arm disposed forwardly of and adjacent said seat and connected intermediate said frame for swinging movement between a substantially horizontal position to an upwardly sloping position, a second releasable latch means embodying a ledge engaging one end of said second arm for holding said second arm in the horizontal position, and means connecting said detent and said ledge to said bumper connecting means so that execution of the movement of said bumper toward the forward end of said frame will release said detent and ledge and permit the movement of said first arm under the action of the associated loaded spring from the suspended position to the position in which the ball is in contact with the ground surface to forcibly engage the ground surface to cause tilting movement of the vehicle and the movement of said second arm under the action of the associated loaded spring from the horizontal position to the upwardly sloping position to forcibly engage a dummy toy occupant when disposed in said seat to cause ejection of said occupant out of said seat and free of said vehicle.

4. In a self upsetting toy vehicle, a mobile frame having a forward end and a rearward end, a seat on said frame between the forward and the rearward ends thereof, a bumper extending along and spaced from the forward end of said frame, means connecting said bumper to said frame for movement toward and away from the forward end of said frame, a spring loaded first arm having a ground engaging element embodying a ball provided with an opening on one end of said am positioned beneath said frame intermediate the ends thereof and having the other end pivotally connected to said frame for movement of said arm between a position suspended from said frame to a position in which said ball is in contact with a ground surface, a first releasable latch means embodying a first lever pivotally connected intermediate the ends thereof to said frame, a detent on one end of said first lever releasably engaged in the opening in said ball for holding said arm in the suspended position, a spring loaded second arm disposed forwardly of and adjacent said seat and connected intermediate its ends to said frame for swinging movement between a substantial horizontal position to an upwardly sloping position, a second releasable latch means embodying a second lever pivotally connected intermediate the ends thereof to said frame, the portion of said second lever adjacent one end constituting a ledge releasably engaging one end of said second arm for holding said second arm in the horizontal position, and means connecting the portions of said first and second levers adjacent the other ends to said bumper connecting means so that execution of the movement of said bumper toward the forward end of said frame will release said first and second levers and permit the movement of said first arm under the action of the associated loaded spring from the suspended position to the position in which the ball is in contact with the ground surface to forcibly engage said ground surface to cause tilting movement of the vehicle and the movement of said second arm under the action of the associated loaded spring from the horizontal position to the upwardly sloping position to forcibly engage a dummy toy occupant when disposed in said seat to cause ejection of said occupant out of said seat and free of said vehicle.

UNITED STATES PATENTS References Cited in the file of this patent 1,546,431 Brandt July 21, 1925 2,587,052 Lohr Feb. 26, 1952 2,757,482 Brown et a1. Aug. 7, 1956 

